(Toronto) Unifor is extending negotiations with Ford Motor by 24 hours after receiving what it calls a substantial offer from the company shortly before a midnight Monday deadline.

The union says negotiations are continuing and members must remain prepared to strike.

Unifor auto workers are in a legal strike position against Ford after their contract expired at the end of Monday without a new agreement being reached.

In an update late Monday afternoon, the union said it was asking its 5,600 members at Ford to be prepared for all scenarios, including a strike, when the contract expires at end of the day.

Unifor National President Lana Payne indicated in a video statement Monday evening that the union would be on strike after the collective agreement expires, but a statement on the Unifor website indicates that Unifor members Ford are expected to remain on the job unless they receive explicit instructions from the union to do otherwise.

Unifor said it was focused on raising wages, improving pensions and ensuring good jobs in a future that will be dominated by electric vehicles.

In a statement, the vice-president of Ford of Canada, Steven Majer, specifies that the company agrees to extend negotiations beyond the existing deadline with a view to reaching an agreement in principle.